WILMINGTON, Del. — The Delaware Transit Coalition is urging state leaders to reconsider a proposal that would eliminate in-person SEPTA ticket services at the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Wilmington Amtrak Station, citing concerns over equity, accessibility, and policy consistency.
In a letter sent to Governor Matt Meyer, coalition leaders criticized plans to close the station’s staffed SEPTA ticket office, which officials have reportedly justified by pointing to an estimated $35,000 annual operating loss.
The coalition argues that the relatively small cost of maintaining the ticket office stands in sharp contrast to the state’s handling of much larger revenue losses in Delaware’s automated tolling system.
According to figures cited in the letter, toll collections on Interstate 95 and State Route 1 generate more than $190 million annually. However, approximately $143.4 million in unpaid tolls, penalties, and fees remain outstanding statewide. The coalition notes that only about eight percent of that amount is typically collected, prompting the state to implement toll amnesty programs to address enforcement challenges.
By comparison, the coalition says the SEPTA ticket office provides essential in-person assistance for a wide range of riders, including seniors, people with disabilities, low-income travelers, and passengers without access to smartphones or credit cards. The office also assists travelers during service disruptions and supports first-time or infrequent riders unfamiliar with SEPTA’s automated systems.
“Removing this service would disproportionately affect those least able to navigate automated systems,” the letter states, warning that the change could create a two-tier transportation system where motorists retain human-centered support while transit riders lose it.
The coalition argues that the social, safety, and operational benefits of in-person ticket services outweigh the modest operating cost, particularly when viewed alongside substantially larger losses in automated toll revenue.
The letter concludes by urging state officials to maintain the staffed SEPTA ticket office in the interest of equity, accessibility, and consistent transportation policy.
The letter was signed by Delaware Transit Coalition representatives John D. Flaherty and Jakim Mohammed.